Some of the biggest Māori health providers in Auckland and Taranaki are "frustrated" they didn't receive any of the one million masks health officials promised for "vulnerable whānau", but the Ministry of Health has said they've been distributed through other channels.
The Ministry of Health now says one million masks were never intended for Māori health providers. (file pic)
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
On Monday, an email was sent to Māori health providers from the Ministry of Health's deputy director-general of Māori Health John Whaanga which said the masks would be distributed the following day to help people protect themselves from Covid-19.